Former device for making paper pulp containers



May 29, 1945. R. E. MacDONALD 2,377,298

FORMER DEVICE FOR MAKING PAPER PULP CONTAINERS Filed March 6. 1945 ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1945 FORMER DEVICE FOR MAKING PAPER PULP CONTAINERS Raymond E. MacDonald, Westwood, Mass., assignor of one-half to Edwin M. Warwick, Walpole, Mass.

Application March 6, 1943, Serial No. 478,260

in said rotor extension portion 25 an opening 11 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of one filed by me August 21, 1939, Serial No. 291,146.

This invention relates to a former device that is used to form a container of 'wetpaper pulp having an integral bottom and side structure.

The principal object of my invention is to so construct such a former device that the deposit of the wet paper pulp on my device will be .uniform and compact and that at a critical point, such as where the bottom and side merges, the deposit will be firm and strong enough to withstand the finishing operations the container has to undergo while the paper pulp is still soft. Another object is to make such a device that is simple in construction and durable, and can be easily disassembled sufiiciently to clean it.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing and specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my former device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l. to show an upper portion of my device including the upper bafile plate.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33- 3 of Figure 1 to show the intermediate bafile plate.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line d d of Figure 1 to show the lower bafile plate.

As illustrated my former device has a conduit it connected thereto havin a head flange H at one end which is fastened to my former device.

A spacer ring 83 is between said head flange H and a bearing 86. Said spacer I3 has an opening it to accommodate a belt l5 that drives a rotatable pulley Zt within said spacer l3. Said bearing it has an inner shoulder ii on which a flange 23 integral with said pulley 20 bears. Bolts i8 ex tend from said bearing 53 through said spacer l3 and said head flange l l. A rotor member i9 is fixedly connected to said pulley 20 by screws 2| which extend from said rotor l9 into. said flange 23 of said pulley, so that as said pulley rotated said rotor 89 is likewise rotated. Said rotor l9 has an extension portion 25 of smaller diameter which provides a circumferential shoulder on which a screen 55, later referred to, bears. Withor space 24 is formed. A cross-shaped member 28, having four arms 26a thickened at their end portions, is fastened to said rotor l9 by screws 21. Intermediate portions of said arms 26a are recessed as at 30. A screw-threaded hole 28 is provided in the center of said cross-shaped member 26 to receive the screw-threaded end of a supporting rod 32. Commencing with said'recesses 30, then to spaces 3| between said arms 28 and to said opening 24, an open passage is provided through to said conduit l0 as shown in Figure l of the drawing. This is the path of the suction draft created by exhaustion of the air from the interior of my device and connected parts.

Mounted-on said supporting rod 32 is an upper baille plate 33 having a plurality of holes 34 therein and a hub 35. There are spaces 30 and3l between this baiile plate 33 and said arms 26a that provide the'afore-mentioned air passage or path. At an intermediate portion of said rod 32 an intermediate bafile plate 37 is mounted thereon having holes 38 therein and a hub portion 39. It will be noted that said holes 38 are farther from the center point of said bafiie plate 31 and the longitudinal or vertical axis of my device than said holes 34 are from the center point of said baffle plate 33 and said axis.

on the lower portion of said rod 32 is a lower baflle plate 3i which consists of an upper part 42 having a hub 43 and holes 48 which are nearer to the center of said bafile plate il and to said axis than any of said holes 36 and 3B are to the center of their baille plate. There are also smaller and more numerous holes 45 nearer the periphery of said upper part Q2 which are spaced farther from the center point of said bafile plate ti and said axis than said holes 38 are from the center point of said bafile plate 31. Said lower bafiie plate M has a lower part 'l the under surface of which as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing is concaved as at 48. Said lower part 4'! has a hub 69, and it also has holes 50 which are in alinement with said holes at. Screws 59 hold said upper part 42 and lower part 47 together; but spaced apart at their outer portions to leave space 52. At the periphery of said lower part 41 holes 54 extend inwardly and communicate through said space 52 with said holes 45. Immediately adjacent and in communication with said holesS-i grooves 53 are out part way into and extend to the bottom surface of said lower part 47. Said holes 54 and grooves'53. bring the path of the vacuum directly to the-point where the bottom and side of the container merge, which is a critical portion of the container where there must be certain strength. This construction assures that the wet paper pulp will be uniformly drawn onto the screen at this point and with considerable force to insure tight packing of the material. Said holes 85 and 56 are equal in numher.

A screen 55 forms an outside portion of said device, extending from and covering the bottom and side up to said extension portion of said rotor 19 being held in place on said baiiie plates by wires 56. As said rotor is rotated by said pulley 20 my former device is likewise rotated. Portions of my device above the upper bafiie plate 43 constitute the top of said device.

In operation my former devic is inserted into a tank containing wet paper pulp, not shown, a suction force is created by any well known means such as a vacuum tank connected to said conduit l6 and the force of the suction created by exhausting the air starting at the bottom of my .former device draws wet paper pulp onto said screen, a portion being shown marked P in Figure 1 of the drawing.

It will be noted that said lower baffle plate has holes nearer to the periphery and farther from its center point and said axis than either of the other two baffle plates 31 and 33. The effect of this is to have the suction force nearer the outer said device, said bailie plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and bein imperforate except for said openings, and top means having a central Opening in communication with said openings, the said openings in the intermediate baffle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than said openings in the upper baffle plate, the lower said ballle plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate bafile plate openings.

2. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising a supporting rod an interior portion of which is solid, three baffle plates mounted thereon spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said baflie plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said ballle plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperforate except for said openings, and top means having a central opening in communication with said openings, the said openings in the intermediate baffle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said devide than said openings in the upper home plate,

the lower said baflie plate having openings fartherfrom said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate baille plate openings.

3. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three baille plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said baille plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said .ballle plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperforate except for said openings, and top means having a central openin in communication with said openings, said openings in the intermediate baflle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device then said openings in the upper baffle plate, the lower said baffle plate having openings farther from saidlongitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate ballie plate openings some of which commence at the periphery thereof.

4. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising a hollow foramlnous body, means having an opening to provide for suction draft at a top portion thereof, said opening being relatively near to the longitudinal axis of said device, a plurality of at least three baflle plates within and extending radially to said body spaced apart and having openings therein arranged to direct the line of suction draft in the longitudinal direction of said screen in a path that is wider at the lower portion of said device than at any other part whereby said line of said suction draft becomes more constricted towards said top portion, the openings in an intermediate bafiie plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than the openings in the upper baffle plate, the lower said baflle plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate baflle plate openings and in communication with an outside opening in said body, said baflle plates being imperforate except for said openings.

5. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three baflle plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said baflle plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said baiile plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperforate except for said openings, and top means having a central opening in communication with said openings, all of said openings in the intermediate bame plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than said openings in the upper baffle plate, the lower said baffle plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate bailie plate openings some of which commence at the periphery thereof, said lower baffle plate having grooves at an extremity thereof communicatin directly with said peripheral openings.

6. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three balile plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said baflle plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said baille plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperforate except for said openings, and top means having a central opening in communication with said openings, allof said openings in the intermediate baflle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than any of said openings in the upper baflle plate, the lower said baffle plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate baflle plate openings, the bottom surface of said latter baflle plate being concaved.

7. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three baffle plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said 10. A former device for making'containersof openings in the upper bafile plate, the lower said baifie plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate bafiie plate openings, the peripheral edge of a lower portion of said lower bafiie plate having openings therein and an upper portion thereof having openings therein spaced from said peripheral edge and communicating with said peripheral openings.

8. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three baffle plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screenassociatedwith said baffie plates and forming an outer portion of said 4 device, said baffle plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being im periorate except for said openings, and top means having a central opening in communication with said openings, said openings in the intermediate bafile plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than said openings in the upper baffle plate, the lower said baflie plate hav ing openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate bafile plate openings and also having openings therein nearer to said axis than those in the other said baffle plates.

9. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three baflie plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said bafiie plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said baffie plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperiorate except for said openings. and top means having a central openingin communication with said openings, said openings in the intermediate baflle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than said openings in the upper name plate, the lower said baflie plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate baflle plate openings and having grooves therein at the outer extremity thereof in communication with said lower baille plate openings.

wet paper pulp comprising three bafile plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated'with said baffle plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said baffle plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperforate except for said openings, and top means maving a central opening in communication with said openings, said openings in the intermediate baffle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than said open ings in the upper baiile plate, the lower said baffie plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate bafde plate openings,-said lower baffle plate having an upper portion and a lower portion opposite portions of which have a space between them, said lower portion having openings therein at said peripheral edge in communication with said space, and said upper portion having openings therein spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge and communicating with said space.

11. A former device for making containers of wet paper pulp comprising three baflle plates spaced apart and having openings therein that are spaced apart, a screen associated with said bailie plates and forming an outer portion of said device, said baffle plates extending laterally the full transverse area of said screen and being imperforate except for said openings, and top means having a central Opening in communication with said openings, said openings in the intermediate baffle plate being farther from the longitudinal axis of said device than said opening in the upper bailie plate, the lower said baffle plate having openings farther from said longitudinal axis of said device than said intermediate baflle plate openings, said lower bafiie plate having an upper portion and a lower portion, opposite portions of which have a space between them, both said portlons having openings therein spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of said lower bailie plate and in communication with each other and nearer to said longitudinal axis than any openings in said upper baiiie plate, said lower portion having openings therein at said peripheral edge in communication with said space, and said upper portion having openings therein communicating with said space.

RAYMOND E. mcnomm. 

